Land Exchange on Colorado's Blue River open to Public Comment

KREMMLING, Colo. — The Department of Interior, Bureau of
Land Management is considering a land exchange along the Blue River in Grand and Summit counties.
This week, the BLM released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this proposal, which
initiates a 45-day public comment period.

Your comments to the BLM on the proposal, will help the agency
determine whether the exchange in in the public’s interest, or not. The BLM must receive
comments by June 25.

Under the proposal, the BLM would exchange nine parcels
totaling 1,489 acres of federal land in Grand County for nine parcels totaling 1,830 acres of
non-federal, private land in Grand and Summit counties.

- The BLM would gain more land than it would exchange; however,
based on the appraisal, these parcels are equal in value.

- The proposed exchange would result in the BLM and members of
the public gaining access to nearly a mile of Blue River frontage near the confluence with the
Colorado River, plus an additional 1.66 miles of river frontage that is currently not accessible,
except by paddlers.

- 300 acres of the exchange would be within the boundaries of
the White River National Forest, which is administered by the U.S. Forest Service. In return, the
BLM would relinquish title to 400 acres of land that provides 0.3 miles of walk-in Blue River
fishing access near Trough Road.

- More than half of the BLM acreage that would be exchanged is
surrounded by private land and has no public access.

The proponent of the proposed land exchange, Blue Valley Ranch,
would also fund several improvements on public land, including facilities for float-boaters on
the Blue River near the confluence with the Colorado River. Facilities consist of a new take-out
for raft and kayaks, wheelchair-accessible fishing platforms, trails, and parking areas, among
others.